[Scene: Late afternoon. A quiet street corner outside a convenience store. A young man named Marcus, 24, stands with headphones in, leaning against a wall, sipping a soda. He’s not bothering anyone.]
Suddenly, a police car pulls up. Then another. Within moments, five officers are approaching him — hands near holsters, voices raised.
Officer 1 (shouting):
Hey! What are you doing here?
Marcus (removing headphones):
Huh? I’m just standing here.
Officer 2:
You loitering? You selling something?
Marcus:
No, sir. Just waiting for my ride. I shop here all the time.
Officer 3 (stepping closer):
Show us some ID.
Marcus:
Did I do something wrong?
Officer 4 (agitated):
Don’t get smart with us! We got a call about a suspicious person!
Marcus:
Suspicious for… standing here?
[People begin watching from across the street. A store clerk even steps out, clearly uncomfortable.]
Store Clerk:
He’s a regular. Just bought something. Didn’t do anything wrong.
Officer 5 (ignoring the clerk):
Empty your pockets.
Marcus (shaking slightly):
Am I being detained?
Officer 1 (pausing):
We’ll decide that.
[A long, tense silence. Finally, another officer checks with dispatch. Nothing. No warrants. No cause.]
Officer 2 (quietly):
You’re free to go.
Marcus (voice low):
I was never going anywhere.
[The officers walk back to their cars. One by one, they leave. Marcus stands still — heart pounding, dignity bruised, but calm. Because he knows this wasn’t about what he did… but what they assumed.]
